American Exorcism: Expelling Demons in the Land of PlentyA guided tour through the burgeoning business of exorcism and the darker side of American life. There is no other religious ritual more fascinating, or more disturbing, than exorcism. This is particularly true in America today, where the ancient rite has a surprisingly strong hold on our imagination, and on our popular entertainment industry. We’ve all heard of exorcism, seen the movies and read the books, but few of us have ever experienced it firsthand. Conducted by exorcists officially appointed by Catholic archdioceses and by maverick priests sidestepping Church sanctions, by evangelical ministers and Episcopal charismatics, exorcism is alive and well in the new millennium. Oprah, Diane Sawyer, and Barbara Walters have featured exorcists on their shows. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, and other publications have charted the proliferation of exorcisms across the United States. Last year, the Archdiocese of Chicago appointed its first full-time exorcist in its 160-year history; in New York, four priests have officially investigated about forty cases of suspected possession every year since 1995. American Exorcism is an inside look at this burgeoning phenomenon, written with objectivity, insight, and just the right touch of irony. Michael W. Cuneo attended more than fifty exorcisms and interviewed many of the participants–both the exorcists who performed the rituals and the people from all walks of life who believed they were possessed by the devil. He brings vividly to life the ceremonies themselves, conjuring up memories of Linda Blair’s astonishing performance in the 1973 movie The Exorcist and other bizarre (and sometimes stomach-churning) images. Cuneo dissects, as well, the arguments of such well-known exorcism advocates as Malachi Martin, author of the controversial Hostage to the Devil, self-help guru M. Scott Peck, and self-professed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren of Amityville Horror fame. As he explores this netherworld of American life, Cuneo reflects on the meaning of exorcism in the twenty-first century and on the relationship between religious ritual and popular culture. Touching on such provocative topics as the “satanic panics” of the 1980s, repressed memory, and ritual abuse, American Exorcism is a remarkably revealing, consistently entertaining work of cultural commentary. |
Contents
Malachis Hostages | |
DemonBusters | |
Demonic Breakdowns | |
The PriestExorcist as HeroRevisited | |
Heartland Deliverance | |
Other editions - View all
American Exorcism: Expelling Demons in the Land of Plenty Michael W. Cuneo No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
abuse actually affliction American asked attended Basham became become believe bishop called Catholic charismatic Christian church claimed convinced course cultural deliverance deliverance ministry demons Devil early entire evangelical evil evil spirits exorcism exorcist experience fact faith Father Father Jack feel finally forced getting gift hand head healing Holy Hostage involved Jesus kind late later least less living looking Malachi Martin memories minister ministry movement named never official once Pastor Paul Pentecostal perform Peter popular possession possible practice prayed prayer priest problems received recent religious renewal reports Return to text ritual Roman Catholic satanic says seemed seventies sexual sometimes sort spirits started story suffering taken tell there's thing thought told took true trying turned United University Warren woman York young